JP2002175254A - Presentation system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic presentation system connectable to an external network. SOLUTION: This presentation system 200 has a presentation network 201 for connecting mutually a presentation device 1 to one or plural computers for participants, provides plural methods for executing presentation, and can use collaboration function. When the external network 208 permits access to a resource of the external network, the presentation system 200 enables access thereto. The system provides simultaneous remote control of a projector 203 of the presentation system 200, and also provides a mechanism for restricting the access, if desired.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a presentation system, and more particularly, to an electronic presentation system connectable to an external network.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To assist in creating multimedia presentations, Microsoft Power Point (TM)
And software such as Corel Presentaion (TM) allow a user to generate data for an electronic presentation and use an output device to display the content (eg, slides) of the electronic presentation.
The electronic presentation can be displayed using a computer monitor. This may be effective if the presentation group and / or its location is small. However, for larger groups / locations, it would be beneficial to be able to present the electronic presentation on a larger scale.

An external output device such as a large-screen television is connected to a personal computer (for example, a presenter's computer) that stores data for electronic presentation for outputting a presentation image to be displayed on the television screen. It is commonly used. In addition, projectors from various manufacturers that can be connected to the presenter's computer and that can project the output from the presentation software running on the presenter's computer onto a physical surface such as a screen, wall, whiteboard, etc. Sold.

[0004]

The presenter needs at least electronic presentation data, usually stored in one or more files, and software for controlling a projector that generates presentation images in order to make an electronic presentation. And
Files containing data for electronic presentations are typically very large, requiring them to be stored on multiple portable storage disks (eg, floppy disks). Also, if they are compressed and stored using compression software to secure storage space, they need to be decompressed before the presentation. To avoid these problems, the presenter usually leaves the file on his or her own computer hard disk and transports the computer to the facility or conference room where the projector is located.

[0005] However, the presenter must connect his computer to the projector before giving a presentation. Such a connection is made by connecting cables between the presenter's computer and the projector with a cable (eg, a serial cable for transmitting control signals and a video cable for transmitting video output). If there are multiple presenters, the previous presenter's computer must be physically disconnected from the projector and the next presenter's computer connected before the next presenter's presentation can begin.

Further, the position of the projector is usually determined based on the position of the surface on which the presentation image is to be projected. On the other hand, the connection between the presenter's computer and the projector is a hard-wired connection and must be located close to each other. Thus, the location of the presenter's computer is limited, which may not be optimal for that presenter.

[0007] Further, a mechanism by which a presenter can provide an environment for sharing presentation materials with other participants after a presentation, or for collaborative work during a presentation or at other times (eg, using existing collaboration software). There is no.

[0008] Instead of using a cable connection between a projector and a notebook computer, there is another presentation scheme as shown in FIG. 1A. In this method, the projector and the presenter's computer
Connected to the existing network infrastructure at the facility (eg Ethernet backbone).

[0009] More specifically, the projector 101 is a node on the network 102. Network 10
2 comprises physical communication paths or wires for transmitting data using a plurality of protocol layers. Projector 10 to generate presentation output
1 is operating system software (eg,
Microsoft Windows CE ™) and electronic presentation viewers such as those used to display PowerPoint files. The access point 104
Another instance of the PC 105 is a node on the network 102 that can connect to the network 102. The access point 104 is connected to the network 102
A hub or bridge that does not have the ability to restrict access to the

FIG. 1B shows a variation of the architecture shown in FIG. 1A. Here, the network projector 101 is connected to the network 102 via the access point 104. Therefore, the access point 104 has a function of connecting the projector 101 to the network 102 in addition to the instance of the PC 105. 1A and 1B, the connection between the access point 104 and the PC 105 or the connection between the network projector 101 and the access point 104 is assumed to be a wireless connection. Good.

Once the PC 105 is connected to the access point 10
4 is connected to the network 102 via the PC 10
The five users can access resources connected to the network 102. Therefore, the PC 105
If one of the instances is a presenter's computer, the presentation file is
Can be electronically transferred to the network projector 101 via the network 102. But,
To find the desired file, it is necessary to use the "browsing" function of the standard operating system.

Further, in the architecture of FIGS. 1A and 1B, instances of the PC 105 and the projector 101 are nodes on the network 102 that do not have a function for restricting access to the network 102 and resources connected to the network 102. . Therefore, a device (for example, the PC 105) connected to the network 102 as a node can acquire an access right to a data store such as the data store 106 also connected to the network 102. The architecture shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B does not have the ability to restrict access through network 102.

In each of the above methods, it may be necessary to adjust projector settings (eg, brightness, focus, etc.) or it may be desirable to allow a plurality of persons to control the projector in some way. This projector can be controlled by directly operating the control unit of the projector. Alternatively, the projector typically has a remote control device that allows remote input of control commands to the projector. However, the remote control device is a dedicated device with limited functions that each person wishing to control the projector must sequentially share.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a mechanism for use in facilitating electronic presentations that allows the presenter's computer and participant's computer to be connected to the projector while maintaining network integration of the presentation facility. There will be. In addition, it would be beneficial to have a mechanism to connect to the existing network of the presentation facility so that participants can be granted access to network resources (eg, presentation files, access to the Internet, etc.). It would also be beneficial to have a mechanism that allows for simultaneous remote control of the projector.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To address the foregoing problems, the present invention comprises a presentation system having a presentation network interconnecting a presentation device with one or more participant computers, the presentation system comprising: Provide multiple ways to conduct presentations and enable a collaborative work environment. In addition, the presentation system provides a bridge (or other network interconnection mechanism) between the external network and a participant computer connected to the presentation network if the external network allows access to external network resources. And allow access to external network resources. Also, while simultaneous remote control of the presentation system projector is provided, the present invention provides a mechanism that can limit such access if desired.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a presentation system includes a presentation system computer coupled to a digital projector via a dedicated network, and the presentation system also connects to a presentation participant computer via a dedicated network. I do. The present invention assumes that one or both of the wired and wireless connections form a dedicated network for the presentation system. Further, the private network can be connected to an external network (eg, a local area network, an intranet, the Internet, etc.). In that case, the presentation system acts as a network interconnect (or access point), such as a bridge, limiting access to external networks to only authorized access. If access is allowed,
Dedicated network users may have access to external network resources such as presentation software and / or electronic presentation files and / or other external network resources.

Thus, the presentation system acts as a bridge between the nodes of the presentation system and any number of external networks. Generally, access to external network resources is based on access privileges associated with the requestor. Examples of presentation nodes include a digital projector and may or may not include one or more participant computer systems interconnected to a dedicated network of the presentation system.

The present invention provides flexibility in executing a presentation so that the presentation can be executed from the presenter's computer or presentation system computer. The present invention further provides a function of executing a presentation using a presentation server connected to the presentation system.

In another aspect of the invention, a presentation system is provided wherein users of a presentation system collaborate on a presentation over a dedicated network of the presentation system,
And to participate in some way.

[0020] In yet another aspect of the invention, a presentation system is configured to generate presentation images from an electronic presentation file stored by a presentation server on an external network accessible via the presentation system.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a web-based user interface that allows participants to communicate with presentation systems and / or other computing systems connected to the presentation network or an external network. Use an interface (UI). This UI can be used, for example, to set up presentations and / or collaborations, control peripheral devices (eg, presentation system projectors), and perform administrative operations. further,
This presentation system facilitates access to electronic presentation files accessible via a presentation system network.
I is also provided.

The electronic presentation data can be accessed based on the name of the file containing the data. Alternatively, one or more properties associated with the presentation and the data for the electronic presentation can be used to access the data. Examples of such properties include keywords such as presentation date, presentation location, meeting name, presentation system name and / or presenter name.

The foregoing has provided a brief summary so that the invention may be understood quickly. Accordingly, the present invention may be more completely understood in reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the architecture of the presentation system according to the present embodiment, which has a dedicated network, can be connected to an external network, and can access external resources through the connection. The presentation system 200 is connected to the presentation device 2 via the presentation network 201.
03 (e.g., a digital projector). The presentation network 201 is connected to another network of the facility (for example, the external network 20).
8) is a dedicated network that is separated from The presentation network 201 is preferably a wireless network, but may be a hard-wired network or a combination of a wireless network connection and a wired network connection.

In the claims and the detailed description of the invention, the dedicated network is not necessarily a network used only for the presentation system. For example, an application that executes the presentation system of the present invention may be in a form that is isolated from other networks. In such a case, a network that is physically shared is a dedicated network on software. Of course, a network that is physically occupied in order to use this system may be used. For example, a dedicated network may be configured by distributing a dedicated communication device (eg, a modem card, a network interface) to participants (by an administrator).
In this case, by managing the participants so that they can be specified by the communication device to be distributed, it is easy to specify the participants who can access other networks.

The presentation system 200 further includes a presentation network 201
No instances of the participant computer 204 may be interconnected via the Internet, or one or more instances of the participant computer 204 may be interconnected. Further, presentation system 200 can be connected to external network 208, in which case it serves to limit access to external network 208 to only authorized access. The system computer 202 is a participant computer 20
The four users (or participants) act as bridges (or other net interconnects) to ensure that they are granted access to the authorized external network 208. A participant may be barred from accessing some or all of the external network 208 based on the participant's access rights.

Participant access privileges can be stored in a repository that provides a mapping between the participant and the participant's corresponding access privilege. Once a participant has identified himself (eg, using a username and password combination), the system computer 202 verifies the participant's identity and the participant's request is stored in the repository. Query the repository to determine if it is allowed based on the access privileges being granted.

Alternatively, the system computer 202
Can transfer the participant's identification information to a computer system (eg, presentation server 206) to confirm the participant's access privileges. The presentation server 206 can return a response indicating whether the identification information of the participant is valid. Further, the response from the presentation server 206 may indicate the access privileges of the identified participant, and the system computer 202 may use the access privileges to
A determination may be made whether to grant the participant access to the requested resource of the external network 208. Participants who have been granted access (for example, if the external network 208 is the Internet or provides a gateway to the Internet) can access the Internet or print to a network printer attached to the external network 208, for example. Can be allowed to do so.

If permitted, the user (or participant) of the participant computer 204 can access resources on the external network 208 via the presentation system 200. For example, as described in more detail below, the participants
Can access the data for electronic presentation stored by the user. For example, a participant may request that one or more files containing data for electronic presentations be downloaded and / or that some of the presentation access (eg, one page at a time) be retrieved from presentation server 206.

The presentation system computer 202 is connected to the projector 203 via a connection 209 (eg, a serial connection and a video connection) and operates to transmit data and commands to the projector 203 to convert presentation images from data for electronic presentation. Generate. Furthermore, projector 2
A command can be sent via connection 209 to adjust the settings of 03.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a pointer device 205 can be used to control a presentation and / or a projector. For example, pointer device 205 may be used to provide input to projector 203, presentation system computer 202, and / or participant computer 204.

FIG. 3 shows a presentation system computer 202 and a participant computer 2 according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the internal architecture of a computing system such as 04, a client computer 207, or a presentation server 206. FIG. 3 shows a CPU 20, preferably a Pentium type microprocessor, interfaced to a computer bus 22. The computer bus 22 also includes a printer interface 25 for enabling the computing system to communicate with the printer, a modem interface 26 for enabling communication between the computing system and the modem,
A display interface 27 for interfacing with a display, a keyboard interface 28 for interfacing with a keyboard, and a mouse interface 29 for interfacing with a mouse or other pointing device are respectively connected.

A read-only memory (ROM) 31 stores computer-executable unchangeable processing steps for basic system functions such as basic I / O, startup, or receiving keystrokes from a keyboard.

Main random access memory (RAM)
32 is a storage device that can be quickly accessed.
Provide to PU20. To this end, the computer executable processing steps of the web browser, presentation system program code and other program code of the software are transferred from disk 6 to computer bus 2.
2 is transferred to the RAM 32 via the CPU 2 and executed by the CPU 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the disk 6 stores a window operating system, a web browser executable on a particular window operating system, presentation system software components, and other applications. Other applications can include word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, graphics applications, and game applications. As can be seen, the disk 6 further includes data files and device drivers.

In one aspect of the present invention, participant computer 204 communicates with presentation system computer 202 to make a presentation from participant computer 204. Participant computer 2
04 preferably interfaces with the presentation system computer 202 using a browser interface and pages displayed by the browser. In addition, the desktop sharing component allows the authorized participant to access the participant computer 204
Can control the presentation system computer 202. That is, the participant can control software on the presentation system computer 202 via the participant computer 204.

FIG. 4 illustrates an architecture for maintaining a presentation from a participant computer 204 in accordance with the present invention.

The participant computer 204 is connected to the server 4
00 to display the page of the browser (eg, DHTML or dynamic HTML) received from
6 is running. A Java script 401 running on the participant computer 204 includes a control component 402 (for example, an ActiveX “msconf” component).
Provides an interface to As a result, the participants can connect to the desktop sharing function 403 and share the desktop of the presentation system computer 202.

The presentation system computer 202 includes a server 400 and a participant computer 204.
CGI for responding to HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) requests sent from browser 406
(Common Gateway Interface) 405 and a browser 408 of the presentation system computer 202 via an HTTP connection 411. The response is generally in the form of an HTML page or other web page. Browser 408 runs on presentation system computer 202 and receives browser pages from server 400. As detailed below,
The browser page may be displayed on both browsers 406 and 408 to enter settings for, for example, presentation, collaboration, projector 203, starting a presentation or collaboration, and participating in a collaboration.
including.

The Java script 409 includes a component 410 (for example, an ActiveX controller component) and presentation software (for example, Microsoft PowerPoi) for outputting an image to be projected on the projector 203 in accordance with electronic presentation data.
nt).

The desktop sharing function 403 enables the participant computer 204 to interface with a program running on the presentation system computer 202 from the participant computer 204 via a connection 412 (eg, a T.120 connection). It is executed on the participant computer 204 and the presentation system computer 202. Thus, the participant can control the input to the browser 408 as well as control the presentation application from the participant computer 204. With the desktop sharing function 403, the display output of the program code being executed on the presentation system computer 202 can be displayed on the display of the participant computer 204, and the program code can be controlled from the participant computer 204.

Therefore, the participant can control the presentation from the participant computer 204 by the desktop sharing function 403. In addition, participants will be presented with presentation system computer 202
You can also control the presentation directly from.

Also, the participants are the browsers 406 and 408
The projector 203 can be controlled from the UI displayed on the screen. FIG. 5 shows an overview of an architecture for controlling a projector according to the present invention.

The browsers 406 and 408 display a set of pages with a UI in which one participant or another participant can submit a control request. The submitted request is processed by the scripting component 401 so that the request is forwarded to the projector control component 502. Projector control component 502 initiates socket 503 on participant computer 204 if it is not already running. Socket 503 communicates with socket 503 running on presentation system computer 202 to transfer command data to presentation system computer 202. Projector 2
Command data is received by the projector control interpreter 504, which performs any necessary conversions to generate projector commands that can be interpreted by O.03. The projector control interpreter 504
"COM" interface 505 and serial connection 20
9 and the projector command is transferred to the projector 203.

The presentation system computer 202 controls the projector 203 in much the same manner as described above with respect to the participant computer 204.
It is possible to use That is, a UI that can be displayed from the browser 408 of the presentation system computer 202 can be used to submit a projector control request, which is transmitted via the scripting component 409 and the projector control 502 to the projector control interpreter 504. Is forwarded to Projector control interpreter 5
04 transfers a projector control command to the projector 203 via the “COM” interface 505 and the serial connection 209.

Using the desktop sharing function described above with reference to FIG. 4, the presentation system computer 202 can be remotely located from the participant computer 204.
Can be operated to control the projector 203. Further, the control of the projector 203 can be directly executed from either the participant computer 204 or the presentation system computer 202.

In addition to giving a presentation from the participant computer 204 and the presentation system computer 202, the presentation is made using a presentation server (eg, the presentation server 206 in FIG. 2) connected to the presentation system 200 via the network 208. It is also possible to do it. Referring to FIG. 2, for example, data for electronic presentation can be uploaded from the client PC 207 to the presentation server 206 via the network 208. Then, the uploaded data for electronic presentation is
Accessed via presentation system 200 to generate a presentation image using projector 203.

FIG. 6 provides an overview of an architecture that can be used in the present invention to present using electronic presentation data stored by a presentation server accessible from a presentation system in accordance with the present invention.

The client PC 207 uses a browser 608 that can upload data for electronic presentation to the presentation server 206 (for example, using the browser 608) by HTTP. In the browser 608, DHTML or CFM
It is preferable that interpretation of various markup languages such as L (Cold Fusion Markup Language) is allowed. CF
The ML allows tags to connect to the database and includes tags that have various database functions, such as querying the database, changing data in the database, sending e-mail, outputting query results to a page, and the like.

The HTTP server 601 running on the presentation server 206 receives the received DHTML / C
Process the FML message. The CFML command sent to the database is transferred to a CF (cold fusion) server 602. The CF server interfaces with the database server 603 to execute one or more requested database commands. For example, a message received from the client PC 207 may include a database SQL (structured query language) "select" command to retrieve database records that satisfy the criteria included in the request. Further, the CF server 602 can be used to send electronic mail via the mail server 604.

Electronic presentation data uploaded to presentation server 206 (for example, electronic presentation data uploaded from client PC 207 using browser 608)
Browser 408 running on presentation system computer 202 can be used to locate. As described in detail below, to facilitate searching for stored electronic presentation data,
The UI of the present invention can be used using one or more properties associated with the data for electronic presentation.

The data for the electronic presentation uploaded to the presentation server 206 can be used to generate a page of the presentation transmitted from the presentation server 206 to the presentation system computer 202.
The presentation page is stored in the database server 6
03 can be dynamically created or modified using data stored in a database accessible through the same.

The browser 408 receives this presentation page. The Java script 409 provides an interface to the control component 410 and the presentation software 410 to output an image received from the presentation server 206 to the projector 203. Such control of the presentation can be provided from the participant computer 204, which remotely accesses the presentation system computer 202 via the desktop function 403, as described above. Further, the control of the presentation is performed by the presentation system computer 20.
2 can also be done by direct access.

In the above example, the data for electronic presentation is uploaded from the client PC 207. Also, from the participant computer 204 and the presentation system computer 202,
Electronic presentation data can be uploaded to the presentation server 206.

The data for electronic presentation can be retrieved from any location accessible from the presentation system 200. The server storing the data for electronic presentation may be, for example, an intranet server without a security function, an intranet server with a security function, or an Internet server with a security function. Presentation system 200 can provide access to an intranet server,
If the server is an Internet server, the presentation system 200 can provide a gateway to the Internet and access to the Internet server.

It is also possible to use a personalized link list provided by the user. When a user stores a file on a server, a utility can be used to automatically update the personalized link list to include a link to the server. The user can incorporate an electronic copy of the linked list into the presentation and the presentation system 2
The linked list can also be accessed from a location accessible via 00.

Further, the presentation system 20
The 0 UI provides a navigational tool that can be used by participants or other users to reach the server containing the desired material. The present invention facilitates locating data for electronic presentations or other presentation material by searching for properties associated with the material. For example, such properties include conference information (eg, room, time, date, name), participant information (eg, presenter name and other participant names), presentation system information (eg, system definition information), and an association with the material. File name may be included.

When the user enters the presentation system 20
In order to store the property on a server accessible via the server, the property can be assigned to the material at the time the material is uploaded. In addition to this upload function, properties can also be assigned using some of the upload functions or a separate scheduler program. Thus, for example, information used to reserve a conference room (eg, time, date, presenter's name, one or more participant names, presentation system) can be used as a part of a presentation during a conference. Can be associated with

The properties associated with the presentation material can be used to determine the location of the presentation material so that the material can be accessed.

[0061] One or more properties can then be used to locate the material associated with the presentation. For example, a search can be performed to find material associated with a given conference room, or material associated with a given meeting date and time, meeting name (or title) and presenter. Examples of other search criteria include, but are not limited to, searches based on a given presentation system, meeting name, meeting date and time, and presenter name.

When the presentation system search criteria are used, a screen listing the possible presentation systems is displayed. By using the selected presentation system, a list of conferences scheduled for the selected presentation can be displayed together with the presenter's name and arranged in chronological order. As a result of the "meeting name search", for example, a display in which the user can select a meeting from among them by title is obtained. In another example, a user may search for material using a presenter name selected from a list of presenter names. The resulting display is:
Provide a list of meeting names associated with the selected presenter.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of the process steps for locating presentation material using one or more properties associated with the material in accordance with the present invention.

In step S801, a page requesting user information (for example, user name and password information) is displayed. In step S802, it is determined whether the user information has been input. If not,
Processing waits for an input in step S801.
If the user information has been input, the process proceeds to step S803 to transmit the user information so that the server (s) being searched for confirms the user information.

In step S804, it is determined whether the server response indicates that the information has been successfully confirmed. If it is not indicated that the user information has been successfully confirmed, the process returns to step S801 so as to request re-input of the user information. If the user information has been successfully confirmed, the process proceeds to step S805 so as to display a page for selecting a search criterion.

In step S806, it is determined whether a search criterion has been input. If not,
After waiting for the input, the process continues in step S805.
However, if it is determined (at step S806) that the search criteria input has been received, step S807 is performed to perform a search using the received search criteria.
The process proceeds to. In step S808, the search result is displayed.

In step S809, it is determined whether an additional search has been requested. For example, an initial "meeting room" search can be supplemented by a search based on meeting name. Therefore, when it is determined (at step S809) that there is an additional search, the process continues at step S805 so as to display a page having a field for selecting a reference for the additional search and / or an input field.

If it is determined (in step S809) that no additional search is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S810 to display file access information. The presentation ends in step S811.

Materials to be transmitted from a server having a security function are encrypted and have a security function (for example, HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)).
Sent over a secure socket layer) connection. And it can be released when it reaches the destination.

The present invention can also be used to establish collaboration between participants. In that case, the collaboration application running on the presentation system computer 202 can be shared by a desktop sharing function 403 that allows participants to share data. FIG. 7 shows an overview of the architecture of the collaboration according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the presentation system computer 202 uses the desktop sharing function 403 for collaboration (or data sharing).
The component is running. Alternatively, other collaboration, ie, data sharing, program code can be used in combination with the desktop sharing function 403. One or more instances of the participant computer 204 executing the desktop sharing function 403 interface with a collaboration program running on the presentation system computer 202.

For example, if the collaboration software displays images from a presentation, participants can use the collaboration features of the present invention to add annotations to the presentation images. The presentation image containing the annotations can be provided to a presentation network and / or external network 208 (eg, presentation system computer 202,
One or more instances of participant computer 204, presentation server 206, etc.) can be archived in a data store accessible.

The present invention uses a UI to receive input from a user and display output. Preferably, the present invention uses a web-based UI and each UI page is transferred as an HTML document from an HTTP server (eg, HTTP server 400) via an HTTP connection (eg, HTTP connection 411). On the client side (for example, the participant computer 204), the browser 406
Receives an HTML document, generates a display based on the page definitions contained in the document,
Is returned to the HTTP server 400.

FIG. 9 shows an initial display of a UI that can be used on participant computer 204 in accordance with the present invention. The display 900 includes a function list 903
And a right frame portion 902 including additional function selection.

By selecting the "presentation" function in the function list 903, the user can provide settings for the presentation using the UI described with reference to FIGS. 10A to 10C.
By selecting the "Collaboration" function in the function list, a display of the UI described with reference to FIG. 11 is presented, allowing the user to specify settings for the collaboration. Figures 12A and 12B
9 shows an example of a UI displayed in response to the selection of the “peripheral control” function in the function list 903. 13A to 13E show an example of a UI page related to the “management mode” function selection.

An example of the UI provided in response to the selection will be described with reference to FIGS. 14, 15, 16A to 16D and 17. These are the participant computers 20
4 and shared from the presentation system computer 202 using the desktop sharing function 403.

FIG. 10A shows the display 1000 in response to the selection of the “Presentation” function in the function list 903 of FIG. The left frame portion 1001 includes a function list 903 as shown in FIG. The right frame portion 1002 provides a function of selecting whether to give a presentation from the participant computer 204 or the presentation system computer 202. Furthermore, the right frame part 10
02 allows the user to archive meeting materials (eg, data for electronic presentations and collaboration documents).

If the user wishes to make a presentation from the participant computer 204, FIG. 10B is shown. The display 1010 includes a left frame portion 1011 and a function list 903. The right frame portion 1012 allows a user to identify a file containing data for an electronic presentation to be transmitted to the presentation system computer 202. The "Browse" function allows a user to locate material to be sent.
As mentioned above, search criteria can be used to facilitate finding the desired material.

The presentation can be started from the display 1010. If it is not already running, the desktop sharing function 403 is started on the participant computer 204 and / or the presentation system computer 202 and a connection 412 is established between the two.

When a selection is made on the display 1000 to give a presentation from the presentation system computer 202, the display 10
20 is shown. The display 1020 includes a left frame portion 1021 and a function list 903. The right frame portion 1022 allows a user to identify a file containing data for an electronic presentation to be sent to the presentation system computer 202. The "browse" function allows the user to locate the material to be sent. If desired, the search criteria can be used to facilitate finding the desired material.

The display 1100 shown in FIG. 11 is used to participate in the collaboration.
5 shows an example of a page displayed in response to a selection made by the user. In addition to displaying the feature list 903 in the left frame portion 1101, the display 1100 allows a user to connect to and collaborate with the presentation system computer 202 by entering a password confirmed by the presentation system computer 202. A right frame portion 1102 is included. Collaboration password is one of the settings associated with collaboration
Can be assigned as one. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

In the function list 903, “Peripheral control (Peripheral control)
al Control) function is shown in FIGS. 12A to 12B. FIG. 12A
12B display a function list 903 in the left frame portion 1201.

Referring to FIG. 12A, the projector 20
The user can select between a display guide for wireless settings and a display guide for setting a digitizer pointer (eg, pointer device 205), which are options for displaying adjustable controls for 3.

Referring to FIG. 12B, power, power, brightness, and zoom are included in the right frame portion.
m), a focus (Focus), a volume (Volume), a keystone (KeyStone), and an adjustable control unit of the projector 203 including an input mode (Input Mode) are included. As described above with reference to FIG. 5, a projector control command may be transmitted from the participant computer 204 or the presentation system computer 202 to the projector 203 in response to the input received from the right frame portion 1212.

13A to 13E show the function list 903.
5 illustrates an example of a UI display used to respond to a management request initiated by selecting a "management mode" from. 13A and 13E each include a left frame portion 1301. 13A left frame portion 1301
Displays a function list 903, and the left frame portion 1301 in FIGS. 13B to 13E displays an administrator mode function list.

Referring to FIG. 13A, a password (eg, an administrator password) that can be used to restrict access to administrative functions is stored in a right frame portion 1302.
Is input to Once the password is confirmed, a display 1310 is presented, which allows the user to select from a management function category of system configuration and projector configuration.

When the system configuration is selected, a display 1320 is presented, and the right frame portion 1322 allows the user to identify the name of the presentation system 200, the model of the projector 203, and the setting of the administrator password. The administrator password is displayed in the right frame portion 133 of the display 1330.
2 is set.

Display 1340 is displayed in response to a selection on display 1310 for reconfiguring projector 203. The administrator sets the right frame part 1
At 342, the settings of the presentation system 200 can be adjusted. Access to the display 1340 is limited to only a user having an administrator password. Accordingly, adjustments (eg, projector control functions) that are not provided to everyone (eg, by display 1210) can be included in display 1340.

The present invention provides a presentation system computer 202 that can share with a participant computer 204 using a desktop sharing function 403.
A function for displaying I is provided. Examples of the UI of the presentation system 200 are shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to A to 16D and 17. The display shown here is displayed from the presentation system computer 202 on the shared participant computer 204.

The display example shown here is made slightly different from the display provided directly to the participant computer 204 to show the origin of the display. However, for the purposes of the present invention, the display on the participant computer 204 and the display on the presentation system computer 202 need not be different. Each of the displays of FIGS. 14, 15, 16A through 16D and 17 includes a left frame portion 1401 and a function list 903. 16A to 16D show the function list 903 in a slightly different way using icons.

Referring to FIG. 14, a participant using the participant's computer 204 can be initialized using a desktop sharing function 403 for connecting to the presentation system computer 202 and an HTML file defining the display 1400, for example. Display 1
400 can be accessed. Display 14
00 includes options for opening data for electronic presentation and starting a presentation, options for preparing a presentation, options for starting a collaboration, and options for controlling a projector.

Display 1500 and right frame part 1
Using 502, a participant can specify a server from which presentation material should be retrieved (eg, presentation system computer 202, presentation server 206, and / or other storage locations). 16A to 16D provide a function of designating presentation materials by name or a function of searching for presentation materials.

Specifically, the display 16 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 00 denotes a screen for requesting user information that can be used to log in and confirm the access privilege of the participant. The right frame portion 1612 of the display 1610 allows the user to enter a document identifier (eg, a file name) or perform a keyword search using one or more properties associated with the desired material. it can. If the user selects to perform a search, the right frame portion 162 of the display 1620
2 allows the user to perform a keyword search and / or a search based on content (contents of a document or file). The results of the search are displayed on display 1.
630 can be seen in the right frame portion 1632.

A participant can initiate a collaboration session using display 1700 from either presentation system computer 202 or participant computer 204. The participant identifies a password for the collaboration session in right frame portion 1702.

The present invention has been described above with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, and C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional presentation architecture in which projector and presenter computers are connected to an existing network infrastructure of a facility.

FIG. 1B illustrates a conventional presentation architecture in which projector and presenter computers are connected to the facility's existing network infrastructure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a presentation system that has a dedicated network and is connectable to an external network and can access external resources through the connection.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the internal architecture of a computer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an architecture for maintaining a presentation from a participant computer 204 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an architecture for controlling a projector according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an architecture that can be used with the present invention to maintain a presentation using electronic presentation data stored by a presentation server accessible from a presentation system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a collaboration architecture according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing steps for locating presentation material using one or more properties associated with the material in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an initial display of a UI that can be used with the present invention.

FIG. 10A shows a feature list 9 so that a user can provide settings for a presentation in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a UI that can be used when a “presentation” function of No. 03 is selected.

FIG. 10B shows a function list 9 so that a user can provide settings for a presentation according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a UI that can be used when a “presentation” function of No. 03 is selected.

FIG. 10C shows a function list 9 so that a user can provide settings for a presentation according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a UI that can be used when a “presentation” function of No. 03 is selected.

FIG. 11 shows “Collaboration” in a feature list to specify settings for collaboration in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI that can be used when a function is selected.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of a UI displayed in response to selection of a “peripheral control” function in a function list according to the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of a UI displayed in response to selection of the “peripheral control” function in the function list according to the present invention.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing an example of a UI associated with a “management mode” function selection for management setting input according to the present invention.

FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of a UI associated with a “management mode” function selection for management setting input according to the present invention.

FIG. 13C is a diagram showing an example of a UI associated with the “management mode” function selection for management setting input according to the present invention.

FIG. 13D is a diagram showing an example of a UI associated with the “management mode” function selection for management setting input according to the present invention.

FIG. 13E is a diagram showing an example of a UI associated with the “management mode” function selection for management setting input according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16A is a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to a selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention;
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 16B is a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to a selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention;
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 16C is a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to a selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention.
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 16D is a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to a selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention.
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a UI displayed on a presentation system computer and provided in response to a selection of a UI accessible from a participant computer in accordance with the present invention.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Sadahiro Tanaka Innovation Drive 110 Irvine, California 92612, USA Canon Information Systems, Inc. (72) Robert Di. Wordsworth Innovation Drive 110, Irvine, California 92612, USA Canon Information Systems, Inc. Inside

Claims (43)

[Claims] 1. A presentation system comprising: a system computer; and a digital projector coupled to the system computer for projecting a presentation image, wherein the digital projector is connected to the system computer via a dedicated network. A presentation system characterized by the following. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the presentation system is connected to an external network, and wherein the system computer is configured to provide access between the private network and the external network. 2. The presentation system according to 1. 3. The presentation system according to claim 2, wherein the system computer restricts access from the dedicated network to the external network. 4. The presentation system according to claim 3, wherein a user access privilege is used to determine whether access to the external network is permitted. 5. The presentation system according to claim 2, wherein electronic presentation data is transmitted to said system computer via said external network. 6. The presentation system according to claim 5, wherein a presentation image is generated by presentation software running on the system computer. 7. The participant computer is coupled to the system via the dedicated network, and control of the presentation software can be performed on the system computer and the participant computer. Item 7. The presentation system according to Item 6. 8. The presentation system according to claim 2, wherein a presentation image can be received from a presentation server accessible via the external network. 9. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein one or more participant computers are connected to the system computer and to each other via the private network. 10. The presentation system of claim 9, wherein one or more participant computers perform a collaboration function by sharing a collaboration session running on the system computer. 11. The system computer generates a user interface (UI), the user interface (UI) being accessible from one or more participant computers coupled to the private network. The presentation system according to claim 1, wherein: 12. The display of the UI is transmitted to one or more participant computers by a standard communication protocol and displayed by browser software running on the one or more participant computers. The presentation system according to claim 11, wherein: 13. The display of the UI is transmitted to the system computer using a standard communication protocol, and is displayed by browser software running on the system computer, wherein one or more participant computers are The presentation system according to claim 11, wherein control of browser software of the system computer is shared. 14. One of the one or more participant computers may include browser software on the system computer and the U.S.A. computer to exclude other participant computers from sharing control of the system computer.
14. The presentation system according to claim 13, wherein I is used. 15. The presentation system according to claim 12, wherein the standard communication protocol is a hypertext transfer protocol. 16. The presentation system according to claim 1, wherein said projector and said system computer are a single component. 17. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the system computer is configured to retrieve electronic presentation data accessible via the dedicated network. 18. The presentation system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface that allows a user to access a server on which the data for electronic presentation is stored. 19. The presentation system according to claim 18, wherein access is based on access privileges associated with the user. 20. At least one property is associated with the data for electronic presentation,
The presentation system of claim 18, wherein access is based on the at least one property. 21. The presentation system according to claim 20, wherein the data for electronic presentation is stored in one or more files, and the at least one property includes a file name. 22. The presentation system of claim 20, wherein the at least one property comprises a date of a presentation. 23. The presentation system of claim 20, wherein said at least one property comprises a location of a presentation. 24. The presentation system of claim 20, wherein said at least one property comprises a conference name. 25. The presentation system according to claim 20, wherein said at least one property comprises a presentation system name. 26. The presentation system according to claim 20, wherein said at least one property includes a presenter name. 27. The presentation system according to claim 1, wherein said network is a wireless network. 28. The presentation system according to claim 1, wherein said network is a wired network. 29. A method for creating a presentation using a presentation system including a system computer and a digital projector coupled to the system computer via a dedicated network, the method comprising: transferring an electronic presentation to the presentation system; A presentation method comprising: generating at least one presentation image of said electronic presentation by a system computer. 30. The step of generating the at least one presentation image further comprises remotely controlling the system computer using a participant computer coupled to the presentation system via the dedicated network. 30. The presentation method according to claim 29, wherein: 31. The method of claim 30, wherein remotely controlling the system computer further comprises controlling the system computer to generate a projector control command for controlling the projector. The presentation method described. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein transferring the electronic presentation to the presentation system further comprises transferring the electronic presentation data to the presentation system. 33. The method of claim 29, wherein transferring the electronic presentation to the presentation system further comprises: causing the presentation system to retrieve at least one page of the electronic presentation. 34. The electronic presentation according to claim 29, wherein the electronic presentation is transferred from a participant computer coupled to the presentation system.
Presentation method described in. 35. The presentation method according to claim 29, wherein the presentation system is coupled to an external network, and wherein the electronic presentation is transferred from a server to the presentation system via the external network. 36. The method of transferring an electronic presentation to the presentation system further comprises displaying a user interface, receiving input including search criteria, and locating the electronic presentation using the search criteria. The presentation method according to claim 29, wherein: 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the search criteria specifies at least one property associated with the electronic presentation. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one property includes a date of the presentation. 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one property comprises a location of a presentation. 40. The presentation method according to claim 37, wherein said at least one property includes a conference name. 41. The presentation method according to claim 37, wherein said at least one property includes a presentation system name. 42. The presentation method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one property includes a presenter name. 43. The method of claim 43, further comprising: obtaining user information; determining access privileges based on the user information; and restricting access to the electronic presentation based on the determination of access privileges. 36. The presentation method according to 36.